- UK under pressure to halt arms sales to Israel
- UK maintains arms sales stance after legal review
- Concerns over humanitarian access in Gaza persist
The British government is facing increasing pressure to cease the provision of armaments to Israel in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Foreign Minister David Cameron has stated that the United Kingdom will not cease arms sales to Israel by British companies following a review of the most recent legal advice on the subject.
Following six months since the Israeli offensive on Gaza, which was instigated by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, the administration of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has faced significant pressure to revoke licences authorising the export of arms to Israel.
The most recent evaluation maintains our stance regarding export licences unaltered. “This is in line with the guidance that I and other ministers have been provided,” Cameron stated at a press conference in Washington, DC, alongside his American counterpart Antony Blinken on Tuesday.
“As always, the position will remain under review.”
Israel received $53 million worth of British munitions in 2022.
Three former senior British judges joined over 600 members of the British legal profession last week in demanding that the government cease arms sales to Israel, arguing that doing so could implicate the United Kingdom in the genocide in Gaza.
Certain opposition political parties in the United Kingdom have demanded that the government revoke the export licences, summon Parliament from its current recess, and disclose the legal counsel it employed to arrive at its stance.
Crisis response manager at Amnesty International UK, Kristyan Benedict, stated, “This was yet another missed opportunity by David Cameron to distance himself and other UK officials from their current complicity in Israeli war crimes, apartheid, and possible genocide.
Regarding its assault on Gaza, Israel has rejected the use of the term “apartheid” to characterise its treatment of Palestinians and denies committing war crimes or genocide.
Palestinian authorities estimate that at least 33,360 persons have been killed and 75,993 others have been injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7.
Israel launched the assault after an assault on southern Israel on October 7, which was spearheaded by the Palestinian organisation Hamas.
Cameron stated that the United Kingdom maintained “grave concerns regarding the issue of humanitarian access in Gaza.
The individual justified the choice to withhold the legal advice regarding armaments export licences from publication. He stated that ministers acting consistently with legal advice without disclosing it to the public was an essential principle.
“In general, it is determined that those export licences will continue to be active,” he stated.
Israel has announced a date for a military offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza, where over a million displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in response to the Israeli assault. This development coincides with his visit to the United States.
Blinken predicted on Tuesday that Israeli and American officials will discuss the possibility of an Israeli military operation in Rafah the following week.
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Despite Washington’s warning against proceeding, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Monday that victory over Hamas required entry into Rafah and that a date had been set for the operation.
Blinken stated that no date has been provided to Washington.
“On the contrary, we are engaged in an ongoing dialogue with Israel regarding any Rafah operation,” Blinken stated, adding that he anticipated the dialogue to continue the following week.
“Ahead of those discussions, I do not expect any actions to be taken, and I do not foresee anything imminent.” “However, much remains to be done, and we continue to believe that major military operations in Rafah would pose a grave threat to civilians who were inadvertently placed in peril,” he added.
Additionally, according to Blinken, the United States maintains close cooperation with Egypt and Qatar regarding a possible ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel in Gaza. On Monday, 400 vehicles were authorised to enter Gaza, the highest number since the conflict began on October 7, according to him.
